Fife Miscellany 2011

A sunny but cold morning in March sees 158730 dropping down Falkland Road Bank with 1L37 0934 from Edinburgh to Perth. An overnight dusting of snow has fallen on the high ground that is East and West Lomond. 11/3/2011

A railtour drops down Falkland Road Bank with Royal Train loco 67005 "Queen's Messenger" leading 1Z30 0604 Darlington to Inverness. The eleven coach train is made up of mk I, mk II and mkIII vehicles all in former BR blue and grey livery.

The snow capped "Paps of Fife" forms the backdrop to 67005 as it nears Ladybank and the junction with the Newburgh branch to Perth and the HIghland Main Line to Inverness.

A very quick drive to Grange of Lindores for a second bite of the cherry and I only just made it in time before the train appeared. Here it nears the overbridge by Abdie Church. 11/3/2011

The view of Markinch Viaduct from the formation of the former Leslie branch at Markinch which is now a footpath. An unknown class 170 turbostar forms 1A78 1530 Edinburgh to Inverurie. 22/3/2011

The three car unit passes over the 10 arch structure completed in 1847. The service is not booked to stop at Markinch station.

From my location it was not possible to identify the units I recorded. This class 158 Sprinter slows for its Markinch stop with 1L07 1535 Edinburgh to Perth working.

This is an identified unit and 158732 catches the glint as it powers away from Markinch with 1L10 1559 off Perth to Edinburgh. The set wears the new ScotRail livery and at the time was the only 158 so treated hence its number is known.

The mid afternoon Aberdeen to London Kings Cross East Coast service glints as it flashes over the viaduct the lead powercar shines in the sun. This train is 1E24, 1450 from Aberdeen.

The rear powercar is unknown like the lead one. The silver livery catches the afternoon sun.

A few class 170 turbostars were painted in the carmine and cream livery of Strathclyde Passenger Transport livery for use within that area. But as is often the way units get rostered onto services away from the area they represent especially when the organisation disbands. 1L59 1600 Edinburgh to Dundee is well outside the former SPT area but here is one of their liveried units slowing for Markinch station.

As the afternoon wears on the sun moves the glint and this unknown turbostar flashes in the centre coach as it speeds over the viaduct high above the A911 between the third and fourth arch, earlier it was between the sixth and seventh. The set is bound for Inverurie beyond Aberdeen and is 1A79 1629 off Edinburgh.

A final shot this afternoon before the sun is covered by the encroaching cloud. A class 158 sprinter slows for its Markinch shot with 1L09 1632 from Edinburgh to Perth. A good few hours was had. 22/3/2011

Early in the morning and the peace of Markinch is disturbed by the distinctive sound of two Napier Deltic D18-25 1,650 hp two stroke powerplants wrapped up as 55022 "Royal Scots Grey". 28/5/2011

A different view of Markinch Viaduct is had from the high viewpoint of markinch Cemetery. The type 5 loco leads a SRPS railtour 1Z64 from North Berwick to the Kyle of Lochalsh.

The train slows for its Markinch pickup, the former Haig's Whisky building forms the impressive backdrop and in the distance is one of two large viaducts on the former Leslie branch, now a footpath.

During the station stop at Markinch and Ladybank I moved to an overbridge on the A92 just north of Ladybank on the Newburgh branch. Turbostar 170395 heads north with 1L33 0629 Edinburgh to Perth. The railtour would have been recessed in the branch passenger loop to allow this train to pass.

With the service train clear of the section signal at Newburgh, 55022 gets the road out of the branch loop. Here is powers away with the leading powerplant putting out its typical two stroke clag. The second powerplant is running cleaner.

A closer look at 55022 and it is carrying two headboards, the usual SRPS Railtour headboard and the train name "The Kyle Crusader". A punter gets the thrash as he looks from the lead carriage window.

Crossing the busy road for the going away shot and on the back is 47804 which took the ECS to North Berwick and would provide the shunt release for 55022 at the Kyle. 28/5/2011

DBS were contracted by ScotRail to provide two loco hauled trains in the morning and evening rush hours round the Fife Circle. They ran them for about two years and this is the ONLY time I photographed one and even then it was by accident. 67007 comes up the 1 in 100 grade at Crossgates with 2G13 1708 Edinburgh to Edinburgh via the clockwise outer Fife Circle. 20/6/2011

170402 is recorded heading for Dundee from Leuchars with 1L55 1400 Edinburgh to Dundee. The location is the overbridge leading to Leuchars Golf Club. 28/6/2011

Moving to Leuchars station proper and 170429 runs in to stop at the former junction station with 1B35 1407 Aberdeen to Edinburgh service.

The first Kings Cross to Aberdeen train of the day stops at the important station here, it serves the RAF base yards away and also the town of St Andrews. 43310 leads 1S11 1000 off the London east coast terminus.

The HST set departs with 43318 on the rear passing the down starter.

Photography at Leuchars had the added bonus of inbound and outbound aircraft from the RAF base just yards away. A Typhoon aircraft, EF, is on short finals to land on Runway 27. As of 1st April 2015 the base moved to the control of the Army with the RAF moving out but the airfield remains active as a diversion airfield for RAF Lossiemouth.

A second Typhoon airframe, EE, passes over the station on short finals to land.

Back to the trains and at the south end of the station 170424 runs in with 1L57 1500 from Edinburgh to Dundee.